“There’s not as many young people because of electronics today,” Flory said. “The big thing in our local paper here is this Pokémon craze,” he said with a laugh. “Now that’s blowing up in a week or two time here. So there’s so many other things to interest other people. But … when they see trains running it’s hugely magnetic.”

The touring Great Train Show is set to make a stop July 30 at Fairplex in Pomona. Kids age 11 and under are free with a paid adult.

In addition to the large operating model train displays, there is scheduled to be more than 250 tables of trains for display and sale by more than 50 nationwide exhibitors.

Bill Grove, show manager for the Carol Stream, Illinois based Great Train Show, said about 3,000 people are expected for the event.

“The main focus of our tour division is really a way to introduce kids and families who aren’t into the hobby as much to show what it is,” said Grove, who believes the model train hobby in general was “in a good place.” Grove said the show has fictional character Thomas the Tank Engine (the fictional train character) merchandise to appeal to children.

“The focus tries to bring in new people to the hobby to sustain it,” Grove said.

Elaborate train displays

One of the draws for the Great Train Show is the displays. The Southern California Traction Club plans to bring three different train displays to the show including city street cars, modern transit and light rail vehicles.

Member George Huckaby, whose club began in 1995 and has 10 members with two living in Japan, said his group has a facility in Baldwin Vista near Baldwin Hills.

“We have a garage where we keep our trailers,” Huckaby said. “We’re a module club now. A module club is where we have pieces to put together and make a layout instead of one permanent layout.”

Huckaby said he had been into the hobby for many decades.

“I had a train set since I was seriously 4-years-old,” Huckaby said. “I’m 73 now… I’ve been messing with trains for a long time.”

For the 70-year-old Flory, the hobby is more casual. In the 1950s he had some trains but multiple moves caused them to disappear. His wife later urged him to build a train layout for their son, and he returned to the hobby before moving to buying and selling.

“It’s the financial side and the pure fun of it,” Flory said. “It’s just fun to watch people’s eyes light up — young and old. And I enjoy helping people. I only sell things where the satisfaction is guaranteed. I make sure they’re happy — if they’re not happy we can trade them out.”

Grove, who has been the official show manager for 27 years, said audiences don’t need to be hobbyists to enjoy the show.

“If someone doesn’t have any knowledge of trains and they’re looking for something to do, the show is good,” Grove said. “There’s unbelievable layouts at the show. It can be marvelled at … if they’re interested in trains, they sell a self-starter set for $40, $60 or $80 depending on how fancy they want to go.”

Flory said if youths are able to make the trek out to Fairplex they’ll enjoy the trains they see.

“They’re absolutely magnetic for small kids,” Flory said. “They like to see all the motion.”

How to go

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 30-31.

Where: Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona.

Tickets: $6.95 early one-day; $7.95 early two-day; $9 on-site one-day; $10 on-site two-day. Kids age 11 and under are free and don’t need a ticket. $24.95 early friends and family one-day group pass that admits up to four people.